Porcelain Rooster Inkstand

This is a figural porcelain inkwell produced by the English firm A.G. Richardson & Co. Ltd under their Crown Ducal brand.

Description

• The Subject: The piece is modeled as a stylized rooster (or cockerel). The bird is rendered with a proud, puffed-out chest and colorful plumage in shades of orange, green, and brown, characteristic of the vibrant palettes used by Crown Ducal in the early 20th century.
• The Lid & Finial: The top section of the rooster’s back has a removable lift-off lid. The finial is a rabbit (identifiable by its long ears and crouched posture), which serves as a handle for the lid.
• The Pen Hole: The circular opening at the front of the base is a pen holder. It was designed to support a single dip pen at an upright angle for quick access while writing.

Manufacturer & Markings

• The Mark: The underside features the Crown Ducal backstamp: a stylized crown sitting atop an interlocking “C” and “D” monogram. This specific blue underglaze mark was a standard trademark for A.G. Richardson.
• Origins: Crown Ducal was established in 1915 at the Gordon Pottery in Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent, England. The brand was highly successful, particularly in the 1920s and 1930s, known for high-quality earthenware and novelty “fancies” like this figural inkstand.

Estimated Age

• Circa 1925–1935.
• While the company produced wares until the 1970s, the artistic style of the bird and the blue-printed CD monogram are most consistent with the interwar period. During the 1930s, Crown Ducal produced many such “floral and fancy” items to appeal to the middle-market collector’s taste for whimsical desk accessories.

Catalog Pattern & Series

While A.G. Richardson’s famous tableware lines (like Orange Tree or Gainsborough) have specific names, their figural items were categorized in factory records as “Fancies” or “Novelty Inkstands”.

• Official Series: This inkwell is part of the Crown Ducal “Poultry” or “Farmyard” series of fancies produced during the interwar period.
• The Design: This specific model is referred to as the “Rooster and Rabbit” inkwell. The pairing of a rooster with a rabbit finial on the lid is a classic example of whimsical British “novelty” porcelain from the 1920s.
• The Palette: The bold use of orange, forest green, and earthy brown is characteristic of the “Tube-line” and “Fancy” palettes developed at the Gordon Pottery in the late 1920s.
• Crown Ducal was a leader in the “middle-market” for decorative ceramics. Items like this were sold as affordable luxuries for the home desk.